Trigger mechanism for firearms



May 16, 1933.

G. B. REID 1,909,425

TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Feb. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheel l INVENTOR May 16, 1933. G. B. REID 1,909,425l

TRIGGER MEGHANISM FOR FIREARMS' Filed Feb 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR oye Held 4 ATTORNEY Patented May i6, 1933 imams GEORGE B. REID, .ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON TRIGGER MiternalvIs'MA Foa manner/rs Application 'mea February a, 1932. serial Nb; 590,586.

My invention relates to trigger mechanism for firearms, and the general object of my invention is to provide a trigger mechanism in which the parts are arranged so that there will be no appreciable change in pressure of the trigger against the trigger finger at the instant the lock mechanism is released fo V' firing.

In attaining accurate marksmanship with firearms, it is common practice to exert a gradual squeezing on the trigger. This obviates undesirable muscular reaction up to the instant of release of the trigger, but the usual trigger mechanism is constructed so that there 5 is a very sharp and appreciable decrease in the resistance of the trigger to the finger at the instant of release of the lockl mechanism. This release in the trigger pressure occurring at the time of firing is present in all firearms with which l am familiar. l have discovered that this release or let-go7 has an unfavorable reaction on the nerves and muscles of the person holding the firearm, and is very liable to result in mov-ement of the firearm at the instant of discharge, thus resulting in inaccurate shooting and less perfect marksmanship than might otherwise be attained.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a trigger mechanism in which there'is 3@ no appreciable release of trigger pressure against the finger at the instant the lock is released, thus overcoming, to a very large eX- tent, the tendency to move the firearm off of the target at the instant of firing. I accom-` r plish this by providing trigger mechanism embodying cam means arranged so that the pressure exerted by the lock' mechanism against the trigger at the instant `of release will be directed substantially toward the pin '40 on which the trigger is pivoted.

W ith the usual trigger action the marks'- man must concentrate on two things, namely getting the gun aimed at the mark, andpulling the trigger while the gun is on the mark. lWith my device the marksm'an concentrates AonlyV on the one thing of holding the gun on the mark, the pulling of the trigger being the result of squeezing, the marksman not knowing at exactly what instant the gun'will go off' and not 'experiencing any trigger reaction '50 when it does g'o 0H'.

The above mentioned general obj ects of my invention, together with others inherent'in the saine, 'are attained by the mechanism, il- D Y lustrated in the following drawings, the same '55 being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout lwhich drawings lil're reference numerals indicate like parts: y

Figure l is an elevation of Van automatic r pistol which is equipped with a preferred form of trigger mechanism'constru'cted in accordance with my invention.

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly'i'n section, on a larger scale, vof said trigger mechanism;

Fig; 3 isa detached perspective view of the mounting means for the trigger mechanism shown in Figs. l and 2. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of 70 a modified form of trigger mechanism in which an antifriction rolling Contact is provided in connection with the trigger mechamsm.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in elevation, 75 with parts in section, of a modified form kof my invention in which a sear is provided between the trigger proper and the lock mechamsm.

Vvatio-n of a modified form of my trigger mechanism showing thes'am'e applied to a bolt type gun lock.

Referring to Figs. l to i inclusive, I show an adaptation of my invention to an auto- 90 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modi- 80 matic pistol. In these figures, 10 is an automatic pistol having a trigger guard 11 within which is the usual trigger 12, all of said parts being of Well linoivn standard construction. 1n accordance with my invention, l provide on said trigger 12, a cam contacting element which may be a lug 13 as shown in Figs. i and 2, or a roller 14 as shown in Fig. 4. An auxiliary trigger 151 having a cam 16 on its rear edge is fulcrumed on pivot pin 17 with the cam 16 in engagement with the cam contacting element 13 or 14. A bracket 18, shown partially brolren away in `Fig. 2, supports the auxiliary trigger 15, said bracket having spaced apart downwardly extending lugs 19 between which the trigger 15 is pivoted, and having two spaced apart` side plates 2O which lit over the front portion of the trigger guard 11 and are adjustably secured to said trigger guard by a bolt 21 which extends through slots 22 in the side plates 20. The upper edges ot the bracket lrest against the under side of the pistol so that the single bolt 21 is all that is required to hold the bracket 18 iirm and immovable.

The lower portion of the cam 1G is preferably in tie form of an even curve which breaks abruptly as at 23 and terminates in an inclined upper edge A small compression spring 25, 2, disposed within a recess 26 in the braclret 1S, presses against a shoulder on the upper end of the trigger and serves always to bring the trigger bacll to the position of rest, shown in Figs.` 1 and lWhen the pistol is coclred, and the trigger is in the position of rest, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the cam contacting element 13 of F igure 1 or element 14 of Fig. 4 will rest against the trigger at, or just above, the location of the shoulder 2B. When the auxiliary trigger 15 is pulled rearwardly, this cam contacting element will pass onto the curved cam portion 16, and the main trigger member 12 will be pressed rearwardly until the lock mechanism is released and the gun lired. The pressure of the cam contacting element 13 or 14 will always be direct d substantially in a straight line against the pivot pin 17, and consequently there will be no appreciable reaction or release of pressure against the trigger linger at the instant of tiring. The required pressure on the auxiliary trigger 15 Will not vary appreciably as said trigger is pressed, and the marlrsman, he squeezes the trigger, will not be able to oretell the exact instant of release oi' the locl: mechanism. Neither will he be conscious of any release or variation in the pressure of the trigger against his linger at the instant of release of the loclz.

In Fig. 5, I have shown my invention applied to a different form of gun lock. ln this adaptation my trigger and cam and mountinCr are the same as in the preceding iigures, but the usual trigger of the gun a sear is replaced by a soar 30 which is fulcrumed at 31. One end ol' the sear 30 engages a hammer 32, and the other end of such sear 30 engages with the trigger cam 16. The operation of this device is the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

F ig. 6 discloses an adaptation of the invention similar to F ig. 4, except that an antifriction roller 33 provided on the rear side of an auxiliary trigger 34 is adapted to press against a cam suiace on the main trigger 12 of a gun. ln this adaptation, the roller and cam surface are relatively constructed and arranged so that the loch mechanism will be released at a time when the pressure of the main trigger 12 against the roller pis applied on a line which passes approximately through the pivot 17. For this reason, no appreciable release or let-go is experienced by the trigger linger at the instant of liring.

In Fig. 7, l show a modified form oi the invention in which a cam 37 on a trigger is operatively positioned in engagen ent with The trigger 38 is pivoted at 40. The relation of the pivot 40, cam 37 and Sear 39 are such as to bring about release of the lock at substantially the instant when the pressure of the sear 39 against the cam 3? is directed squarely against the pivot pin 40. F or this reason, no appreciable release is experienced bythe trigger linger at the instant of tiring.

In F ig. 8, I show an adaptation of my invention to a bolt type gun lock in which a bolt 41 is retained in cocked position by a catch member 42 which is pivoted at 43 and held in engagement with the bolt 41 by a spring 44. The usual trigger 45 pivoted in the catch member 42 has a pawl 46 engaging a relatively non-movable wall 47 whereby when the trigger is moved by exerting a pull or squeeze thereon the end of the catch member 42 will be moved downwardly and will release the bolt. In accordanre with my invention, l mount an auxiliary trigger 48 on a pivot 49 in front of the trigger 45 and provide on said auxiliary trigger a cam member 5() disposed to engage the trigger 45. Obviously a pull on the auxiliary trigger 48 will move the trigger member 45 and release the bolt. The main trigger 45, cam 50 and pivot 49 are relatively positioned so as to release the bolt 41 at the instant the pressure of the main trigger member 45 on the cam 50 is directed' substantially against the pivot 49. For this reason, no appreciable release is experienced by the trigger .finger at the instant of liring.

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 8, the lower portion of the main trigger member 45, which has been `indicated in broken lines, may be removed.

The mode of operation of the device embodying my invention is set forth in connection with the above description of the device.V

than by the trigger finger. This delays thel recognition on the part of the marksman of the tact that the gun is discharged. In other words, he does not know during the time of firing that th gun is being discharged, so that there is no appreciation on his part of any let-go, the recognition of which results in an involuntary rontraction of the muscles, so that the gun is moved oli' the line of aim before the discharge is completed. Such feeling of let-go results in a reaction of the nerves and muscles which tends to produce inaccurate marlrsman'ship. Such reaction Jfor that moment is involuntary, and it is the mechanical elimination of this tendency that is one ot' the aims of my invention. The expert in the use of the firing arms as heretofore constructed manifests his ability in overcoming this involuntary reaction. By keeping the pressure relatively constant just before and just after the release of the firing mechanism and by directing the reaction of the stresses of the trigger mechanism to the trigger pin of the trigger, avoids the recognition oi the let-go.

It will be manifest from the drawings and descriptionl that my invention may be readily added to guns already manufactured, by a slight alteration therein, or it may be built into the gun at the time of manufacture.

Obviously, other variations and adaptations ot my invention may be devised in which the relation of the coacting parts is such that no appreciable release or let-go is experienced by the trigger finger at the instant of firing, and obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing trom the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred "forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. In auxiliary trigger mechanism for gun lool-1s, a mounting member; means adjustably securing said mounting member to a trigger guard' an auxiliary trigger pivoted on said .iou ing member; and a cam on the rear edge of said auxiliary trigger.

2. In auxiliary trigger mechanism for gun locks, a mounting member having a bifurcated portion arranged to lit over a trigger guard bolt means adjustably securing said mounting member to said trigger guard; an

auxiliary trigger pivoted on the rear end of said mounting memb r; and a cam on said auxiliary trigger for engagement with the hammer releasing mechanism of a gun loclr.

3. In an' auxiliary trigger mechanism `for gun locks; a mounting member having a b1- vurcated forward end comprisingytwo sub- '.'stantially parallel plates arranged to titA on opposite sides of a trigger guard, 'said plates having-longitudinal slots therein; a bolt extending through said plates and through the trigger guard adjustably securing said mountingto said trigger guard; two dovvnwardly projecting spaced apart lugs on the lrear end of said mounting member; a trigger pivotally mounted between said lugs; a cam on the rear edge of said trigger; and a trigger spring interposed betweenfsaid trigger and said mounting. 1

l. In a trigger mechanism, a pivotally mounted trigger; a releasing'means, for a liring member, movable toward the pivotal mounting of said trigger; cam means operated by said trigger and disposed between said releasing means and said trigger; and means engaging the cam means with the releasing means and positioned at the instant of firing in the/line of pressure of said releasing means towards said pivotal mounting of said trigger.

5. In a trigger mechanism, a pivotally mounted trigger; a releasing means, for a firing member, movable `toward the pivotal mounting of said trigger; cam means rigid with said trigger and disposed between said releasing means and vsaid trigger; and means engaging the cam means with the releasing means and positioned at the instant of firing in the line of pressure of said releasing means towards said pivotal mounting of said trigger.

6. In Va trigger mechanism, a pivotally mounted trigger; releasable spring actuated firing means; devices holding said iiring means in cocked position; a releasing means, for a firing member, movable toward the pivotal mounting of said trigger; cam means rigid with said trigger and disposed between said releasing means and said trigger; and means engaging the cam means with the releasing means and positioned at the instant of firing in the line of pressure of said releasing means towards said pivotal mounting of said trigger. f

7. In a trigger mechanism, a pivotally mounted trigger; a releasing means, for a tiring member, movable toward the pivotal.

mounting of said trigger; cam means operated by said trigger and disposed between said releasing means and said trigger; and roller means forming an anti-friction bearing engaging the cam means with the releas-j ing means and positioned at the instant of firing in the line of pressure of vsaid releasing means towards said pivotal mounting of said trigger.

8. In a trigger mechanism, a pivotally mounted auxiliary trigger means; a main trigger means operatively disposed as respecie a, firing member endmovable toward the pivotal mounting of said auxiliary brig ger means; @am meensopera-ted by said-au iiiery trigger and disposed between said main r s 5 rigger and, said'auxiliary trigger and means. engngingthe cam meanswith saidmein trigger and pesitioned at the instant of firing in the line of pressure'of said main rigggfery towards said pivote-l mouniiug of said aux w iliary trigger.

- 9. ln a trigger mechanism, a. pvotally mounted trigger; e irieg `menflber; Sear mesme operatively disposed Aas respects said Firing `member :md movable toward the piv 5 Otel mounting of said rigger; cem means operated by said trigger and disposed between said Sear und seid trigger; and means engaging the cmn'meens with tile Sear ineens v and pesieneci` at the instant oring inthe ze line ofpressure of said seer means towards .said pivotal mountiixg of seidtrgger.

En 'Witness whereof, I 'hereunto subscribe my name ehis 29th defy' 0i January, 19132.

GEORGE B. RED. 

